The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-01-19
MINNESOTA LETTER.
M1NNEAPoL1s, Jan. 1st, 1887


many of my friends in your county
and vicinity, that would write a let.
ter informing your readers and the
friends aforesaid how l like the "Great
Northwest" will here aud now stop
to remark that l have often thought of
the promise | made and have only
been waiting to be sure how | do like
it myself, as l know that first impres.
sions of new country are sometimes
misleading an4o one should not jump
at conclusions too readily, but "go
slow and learn to peddle," as it were,
before one should publish his opinions
of a new abiding place. In my expe.
rience of different sections and places
in which l have lived every place has
its advantages and Disadvantages, no
one is absolutely perfect and l will
try in this short letter to give my ideas
of this part of the country in both of
the above respects. l haven't invested
in any real estate here as yet, and it
will be of no pecunisry interest for
me to boom this state or this city. 80
you and your readers may expect the
truth as far as l am able to give it
without hattery or exaggeration. Now,
as to the climate; we came here about
the middle Of July; when we left
Pennsylvania it was warm and very
dry; how long the dry spell continue d
there you all know better than l.
When we passed through Ohio and
eastern Indiana We found everything
nearly burned up by the drouth, or it
seemed 30 to US from the car windows
On nearing Chicago things began to
look more green and lifelike. Through
Illinois there was also an improvement,
and judging by the size and appear
ance Of the vast fields of corn, the
drouth was not so severe in that state.
On reaching North Eastern Iowa it
was about the same. Coming into this
state by the Albert Lea r. r. we soon
discovered great change, every grow.
ing crop showed thrift and less effect
of the drouth. OF course it was what
was called dry summer here, never.
theless there we're occasional rains and
as far as l have learned crops we're all
large. | have Teen out among the
farmers once or twice during the fall
and saw them harvesting the finest
crops Of potatoes aud corn ever saw
The wheat crop of this state was also
good. There is some Of the finest soil
for farming to be found anywhere and
some not 81 good. Wherever there is
much pine timber the soil is thinner,
and poorer than where hard timber
grows, or on the prairies, Speaking
of the crops, this State raised the last
season All million bushels of wheat,
% million bushels of corn, 35 million
bushels of oats. and over million
bushels of potatoes, million bushels
of barley aud over 10000 bushels OF
beans, enough Of the latter to make
several pots Of Boston's favorite dish.
Over 30,000,000 lbs. of butter, and
500, 900 lbs. Of cheese was also pro.
duced. SO much for some of its agris
cultural products. It's numbering in
dustries are also vast. am not able
to remember figures Of last years cut
but they are immense. As to this city
it is one Of the healthiest and one OF
the finest and most enterprisiDg in the
U. S. The leaiing papers now claim
1854 population; 4,503 new build
ings were erected the past year. The
city valuation is now 102 million dol.
lars; 80 million bushels of wheat were
received here during the past year,
and over 6 million barrels Of -four
were manufactured here. Tho real
estate transfers aggregated over 3S
million dollars, exceeding last years
sales by about Is million dollars. The
city is traveTsed by 81 miles of street
railways and | haven't lived here long
enough yet to find out how many rail.
roads enter aud depart from the city,
but they are quite numerous. l might
go on aud give you figures in endless
profusion but don't want to Overdo the
matter in that line for fear some of
your numerous readers will get dis.
gusted and think l ought to call halt.
will, however, let up for few min
utes and describe the climate. We
had a beautiful, warm. sunny autumn ::